Millford Plantation  Pinewood  Sumter County

Basic Information

Located west of the Town of Pinewood and south of Poinsett State Park off SC 261 at 7320 Millford Plantation Road, Pinewood. Click here for directions.

Comments  Bears a striking resemblance to the old Charleston Hotel in Charleston, which is not surprising since Millford's builder, Nathaniel P. Potter, was an understudy for the hotel's architect (3).

Buildings

The Greek Revival mansion is equally impressive inside and out. The walls are two-feet thick and constructed of handmade bricks which were fired on site. Imported materials were delivered via boat up the Santee River. Most of the original Duncan Phyfe furniture still remains in the house (1, p. 2) (3).

A remarkable coincidence appears to have saved Millford from the fiery end that destroyed many stately homes during the Civil War.
The following story is reported on the website of the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust:

On what turned out to be the final day of the War before Lee's surrender, Northern troops, under the command of Brig. General Edward Elmer Potter arrived at Millford. Gov. Manning met the Yankee General at the front door and observed: "Well, the house was built by a Potter (Nathaniel Potter, the architect) and it looks as though it will be destroyed by a Potter." General Potter responded: "No, you are protected. Nathaniel Potter was my brother." (3)

Docent Marguerite Wiegand shared a possible twist to this story with us. "When
General Potter spared Millford he did not know that Governor Manning had a copy of the articles of secession in his desk. The story of Millford's survival might have ended quite differently had he known." (4)

Servant quarters were small white stone houses built at the sides and back of the big house.

Other structures on the property include guesthouses, a 26-stall stable c. 1850, water tower, and a spring house (3).